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Iraqi Soldiers Discover Weapons Caches, Detain Terror Suspects

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Dec. 23, 2005  Iraqi army troops discovered several weapons caches and took suspected terrorists into custody Dec. 22 as they continue to take on more responsibility for their nation's security, military officials reported today.

Elsewhere in Iraq, troops from the 3rd Battalion, 1st Brigade, 7th Iraqi Army Division, discovered a weapons cache while patrolling along the north shore of the Euphrates River north of Ramadi. The patrol discovered a mortar tube and base plate, as well as an outboard motor. A further search yielded a cache of seven 60 mm mortar rounds.

When an explosives team was called to destroy the cache, an improvised explosive device was discovered 200 meters from the cache, officials said. Both the cache and the IED were safely destroyed.

In Khalidiyah, troops from the 2nd Battalion, 3rd Brigade, 1st Iraqi Intervention Force, were manning a vehicle checkpoint when they stopped the men's vehicle and discovered two 82 mm mortar tubes in the back of the truck. The tubes were seized and the suspects were detained pending further investigation.

Troops from the 3rd Battalion, 1st Brigade, 4th Iraqi Army Division, also detained a man suspected of involvement in insurgent activities west of Balad.